XC Skiing in the Italian Alps

Val Gardena, Italy AMC Adventure Travel Trip #2121

February 14-21, 2021

Italy’s Val Gardena is perfectly situated in the heart of the Dolomites, a World UNESCO heritage region and a paradise for those who love nature, outdoor activities, and cross-country skiing. With more than 80 km of cross-country ski trails, there is something for everyone and the area has become a favorite destination for AMC Adventure Travelers. Join us as we explore this special region of Italy in the wintertime! From our “base camp” at a family-owned 4* hotel in Ortisei, we will enjoy up to six days of skiing on a variety of moderate trails with distances of 6-10 miles, with moderate elevation gains and breaks at small mountain huts. Ski routes are a short distance away via local buses and ski lifts. In addition to skiing, there are some sightseeing opportunities, including a visit to Ortisei’s Gherdeina Museum for insight into the region’s geography, history, and culture. This prospectus should answer most of your questions about our trip. Please read the information carefully and contact us with any questions or to request application materials. Our contact information is at the end of the prospectus. We look forward to adventure traveling with you!

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Trip Description Our trip will be based in Ortisei (elevation 4,035 feet), the main village of Val Gardena in the middle of the Dolomites. We will stay at a 4* hotel located in the center of the village and adjacent to the pedestrian-only zone. We will stay in one location for the full week to maximize our time for exploration while minimizing packing / repacking. We will use the local transport system – including buses and cable cars – to gain access to our daily ski adventures. We will primarily ski on The Seiser Alm, a high altitude plateau in the Dolomites that is used for training by many national cross-country teams including the Italian, Norwegian, Swedish, and American teams. Breakfasts and dinners will be at our hotel and we will enjoy hearty Tyrolean-Italian cuisine. We will pack food or stop at mountain restaurant huts for lunch, depending on each day’s activities. The trip consists of up to 6 days of xc skiing in the Val Gardena area. Alternately, participants can relax in the hotel’s spa, visit a museum, try another activity like snowshoeing, or explore the local village. Throughout our time together we will endeavor to enjoy and understand this wonderful region through the “lens” of AMC’s mission of education, conservation, and appreciation of the natural world.

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Expectations of Participants This trip is rated 4-MODERATE for experienced cross-country skiers who enjoy an active vacation. You should be fit enough to ski 6 to 10 miles per day, approximately 2-4 hours per day, for several days in a row carrying a day pack with your personal gear (i.e., rain gear, pack lunch, extra layers, etc.) in all different weather conditions. Daily elevation gain/loss will range between 600’ and 900’. While the majority of our skiing will be on comfortable groomed trails, participants should expect to be on rougher trails as well. Participants who have a fear of heights should be aware that some of the trails we plan to ski are accessed via gondolas and cable cars and we will be subject to the attendant exposure involved in the use of such means of transport. Prior to your acceptance as a participant in this trip, you will be asked to discuss with us your capabilities and experiences. We may also request references to confirm your fitness level and suitability for participating in trip activities. While the leaders will make a reasonable attempt to ensure a good “fit” between the trip and participants, you are ultimately responsible for being aware of the risks involved in the activities and for conducting yourself accordingly. You are ultimately responsible for your own safety. It may happen on any trip that a participant is or becomes unable to participate in one or more of the planned activities. Leaders in their sole judgment have the right and obligation to refuse participation in any activity to any group member for reasons of safety, whether it be of the group or of the individual. Illness, injury, lack of proper gear, or fitness are examples of some conditions that might result in an individual being unable to participate in one or more activities. Leaders may try to find a substitute activity for the trip member, but this may not always be possible.

This is a group activity and we will be spending many, but not all, hours together. We expect that everyone will pitch in and contribute to helping each other have a great time.

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Planned Itinerary: Feb 13 or Prior: Leave USA on an overnight flight. We recommend flying into Verona or Innsbruck and taking a bus to Ortisei. No meals, accommodation, or activities provided today.

Sun, Feb 14 Arrive in Ortisei and check into our hotel. Wander around town or relax at the hotel before the trip officially begins at 5PM with a group meeting and dinner.

Meals included: Group Dinner Mileage/Hours: None

Mon, Feb 15

Our first ski will be a “warm-up” at a local ski trail close to the village. You are welcome to bring your own ski gear or rent from a local ski shop.

Meals included: Breakfast Group Dinner Approximate Miles/Elev/Time: 6 miles (10 km) +/-600’ 2-3 hours

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Tues, Feb 16 through Sat, Feb 20

Each day we will explore the Seiser Alm, with 80km of trails in the heart of the Dolomites. We will ski at a relaxed pace and will take breaks at mountain huts.

Daily Meals included: Breakfast Group Dinner Average Mileage/Hours: 6-10 miles (10-16 km) +/-600-900’ 3-5 hours

Free Days

You are welcome to opt-out of xc skiing to relax, explore the local area, or try a different activity like downhill skiing or snowshoeing. Although these activities are not included, we can help you find a local guide.

Meals included: Breakfast Group Dinner

Sun, Feb 21 After a last breakfast together, we’ll say goodbye to Val Gardena and begin our journeys home or to further travels in Italy or Central Europe.

Meals included: Breakfast Mileage/Hours: None

While the itinerary in this prospectus is what the leaders have planned at the time of writing, various factors may require changes for reasons of group ability, safety, transportation, and unforeseeable circumstances such as weather considerations, natural disasters in the areas to be visited, or recommendations of governmental agencies. Our rest day might shift to adjust for inclement weather. The leaders reserve the right to make such changes as necessary, both before and during the trip.

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What to Expect This trip is rated a difficulty of 4 - MODERATE Our pace will be relaxed so that we may enjoy the scenery and we will take time to stop in local huts to socialize and enjoy local Tyrolean-Italian fare.

Our accommodations will be at a comfortable 4* hotel. Solo travelers will be paired with a same gender roommate. Single rooms might be available with a “single supplement”. We will have breakfasts and dinners at our hotel. Lunch plans will be based on our days’ activities; we may pack food with us or stop to eat at mountain restaurant huts along our route. Participants with specific dietary requirements should contact the leaders for additional information.

Weather We can expect an even mix of sun and clouds during our trip. The average temperatures in Val Gardena during this time are 27-38 degrees. Due to the higher elevation of the Seiser Alm, the temperatures while we are skiing will likely be 5 - 10 degrees cooler than in the village. As always, mountain weather can be unpredictable and cross-country ski apparel including suitable insulation layers will be required. See the gear list at the end of this prospectus for more info.

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Cost of the Trip The trip will cost $2,250 for AMC members, $2,350 for non-members. Included is: seven (7) nights of lodging, seven (7) breakfasts, seven (7) group dinners, up to six (6) ski days, and emergency medical and evacuation insurance. A limited number of single rooms (single supplement) may be available at an additional cost. The cost of lunches, drinks, and incidentals - essentially anything not specifically detailed above, is not included in the price. We recommend budgeting $15 - $20 per day for these expenses. The trip fee includes an AMC overhead charge to cover the administrative expenses of offering AMC Adventure Travel excursions and, in accordance with AMC you are subsidizing some of the leaders’ cost. The trip fee also includes emergency medical and evacuation insurance coverage which is required by AMC. The price for this excursion is based on quotes or estimates obtained at the time the trip was submitted to the Adventure Travel Committee for approval. The final price will be adjusted in accordance with the best final arrangements we can make. As with all Adventure Travel Committee excursions, this trip is run on a non-profit basis; any savings we achieve, as well as any cost increases we incur, will be shared by trip participants. Our cost estimates are conservative, and so a refund is considerably more likely than a price increase. Your round-trip airfare and land travel to / from Ortisei, which we currently estimate at $1,500 is not included. Leaders will be glad to provide information on suggested flights and bus schedules.

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Important Notes: The price of the trip is subject to an increase should the value of the US dollar versus the Euro decline significantly from the estimated exchange rate of 1.20Euro to $1.00USD. Conversely, any unspent funds resulting from exchange rates being more favorable than our estimate will be refunded to the participants.

While the trip cost does include insurance for medical emergencies and evacuations, it does not include insurance for travel delay, interruption or cancellation of the trip, or baggage loss. Purchasing such insurance is strongly suggested. The leaders will send you information to help you purchase this insurance through a preferred AMC vendor or you can purchase through your own preferred vendor. Please note that most of these types of travel insurance require you to purchase the insurance within a certain number of days after booking your trip – once you have received a formal acceptance letter, please do not delay in purchasing your insurance if you choose to do so. As participant safety is a high priority for all AMC-sponsored events, procedures and policies have been developed to attempt to limit participant risk. Participants are expected to work with volunteer leaders to reduce risks and make the experience successful for all. Participants should be aware that there are risks associated with outdoor adventure activities, including but not limited to adverse weather and environmental conditions, remote locations of our trips and camps, and transportation in vehicles, on foot, by boat, or on a bike. When you apply for acceptance onto a trip, please carefully read and sign the Adventure Travel Acknowledgement and Assumption of Risks and Release and Indemnity Agreement and call if you have any questions.

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Cancellation Policy

The AMC Adventure Travel cancellation policy is based on the fact that your cancellation may not raise the cost to the other participants or to the leaders. Once you are notified the trip is declared to run as scheduled, the minimum cancellation fee is $200. If actual costs (expenses already incurred on your behalf and any unavoidable future expenses that will be incurred as a result of your registration and cancellation) are higher, they will be assessed instead, unless they can be applied toward another acceptable participant. Should the leaders be able to replace you, you may be charged a reduced penalty. This will generally not be determined until after the trip. Failure to make trip payment(s) in a timely manner will be considered a cancellation.

On rare occasions AMC Adventure Travel may need to cancel all or a portion of a trip due to force majeure [e.g. terrorism, local health conditions, natural disaster, changes in local regulatory environment, etc.] In the event of such a cancellation, your trip fee will be refunded less any trip expenses already incurred plus any non-cancellable future trip expenditures. AMC Adventure Travel is not responsible for additional expenses incurred by you in preparing for the trip (including non-refundable air tickets, visa fees, gear or medical expenses, etc.

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How to Proceed

To apply to the trip, email the leader(s) letting them know that you are interested in receiving the trip application forms:

Karen Barsanti 4 Vineyard Drive Stratham, NH 03885 (603) 770-1980 karenbarsantiAMC@gmail.com

We will send you the application, risk release, and medical forms which you will need to print, complete, sign and return along with the required deposit check of $1,000 made payable to the Appalachian Mountain Club. Your official acceptance onto the trip will not happen until the leaders have determined by a telephone conversation with you that you and the trip are a good match.

Once you have been officially accepted and the trip has the required number of qualified participants to make the trip ‘a go,’ your check will be deposited and the trip’s cancellation policy will take effect (see below). The rest of the trip fee will be due by November 10, 2020.

Karen Barsanti, Leader: Karen is a member of the NH Chapter and has led trips for over 15 years for NH Excursions, NH Family Group, August Camp, and Adventure Travel. She is certified by Wilderness Medical Associates International in Wilderness First Aid, AED, and CPR. She is a past Chair of the NH Chapter and currently serves as Secretary of Adventure Travel. Karen loves the Alps and has led multiple trips to Switzerland, Italy, and Austria. This will be Karen’s fifth trip to the Italian Alps and she looks forward to sharing this special region with fellow Adventure Travelers.

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Required Gear Passport and Medical Insurance Card Backpack (20-25 liters) with waterproof pack cover 2 one-liter water bottles Personal first aid kit with head lamp Outer-layer: xc ski jacket, pants, hat, gloves/mittens. Base and Mid-layers: wool or polartec socks, pants, and tops Waterproof winter hiking boots for walking around town or in case you want to go snow-shoeing Sun protection: sunglasses, lotion, and lip balm Leisure clothes for travel and hotel Personal toiletries Optional Recommendations Ski Gear. You can rent at a local shop or bring your own. Gaiters Camera Binoculars Ear plugs Zipper closure plastic bags for packing lunches and snacks Reading material for breaks in the action Luggage locks

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